Has anyone any contact details for Peter Gallimore, ex editor in BBC News, now living in Duffield, Derbyshire?   A mutual friend would like to get in touch with him.

Ex-bbcstaff members (indeed, everyone) are cordially invited to two free broadcasting history events taking place on 29 September and 4 October as part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded project Re-viewing LGBTQ+ Lives through Broadcasting in Twentieth-century Britain.

1. AIDS Broadcasting and Gay Campaigning in the Eighties
1800-2000 on Tuesday 29 September 2026
In person at Loughborough University London, Room 2.05, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London E20 3BS and online via Teams (https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/396443240009800?p=g75pXDqWdo75qIGH8b). Those attending in-person should book tickets in advance at https://www.outsavvy.com/event/38910/aids-broadcasting-and-gay-campaigning-in-th... as space is limited.

The HIV/AIDS crisis transformed the relationship between gay men, pressure groups, broadcasters and the government in 1980s Britain. This witness seminar will hear from four men who shaped and observed this transformation:
Keith Howes (then at Gay News and Capital Gay)
Julian Meldrum (Capital Gay and Hall-Carpenter Archives)
Martin Weaver (Terrence Higgins Trust)
Sir Nick Partridge (Terrence Higgins Trust)
Audience members are encouraged to share their experiences of the 1980s and to reflect upon subsequent media coverage of LGBTQ+ issues. The seminar is accompanied by a pop-up exhibition showcasing interviews collected by the National HIV Story Trust.

2.  Who Was Seen? Diversity & Equality in 20th-century Broadcasting
1200-1600 on Sunday 4 October 2026
Creativity Pavilion, Alexandra Palace, London N22 7AY
Email marcus.collins@lboro.ac.uk for free tickets to this event

At noon, Prof Marcus Collins will talk about ‘Sex and the BBC: The Moral Foundations of Public-service Broadcasting in 20th-century Britain’.
At 1pm, Stephen Bourne will talk about ‘A Sort of Magic: Black Contributors and Creators on Pre-war BBC Television’.
From 2-4pm, there is a panel discussion explores the history of lesbian and gay broadcasting in 20th-century television, alongside wider conversations about representation, diversity and public-service broadcasting during the BBC’s formative years. Panel members include:
Stephen Bourne (author of Playing Gay in the Golden Age of British TV and the forthcoming Thursday’s Child)
Keith Howes (Gay News television critic and author of Broadcasting It)
Jane Traies (Research Associate at University of Sussex and author of The Lives and Experiences of Lesbians over 60 in the UK)

Tickets for the 4 October event are ordinarily £5-15 but I can provide a limited number of complimentary tickets. Simply email me at marcus.collins@lboro.ac.uk with the names and email addresses of those who wish to attend.

Don’t hesitate to contact me with queries about either event – and feel free to spread the word!

Marcus

Prof of British History
Loughborough University
marcus.collins@lboro.ac.uk

Is anybody still in touch with Jimmy Monks please, once Prop-Boy, then Grips? A couple of questions have cropped up that he may be able to answer. Thank you.

Hello Howard.

Although not on your list, I too was one of those 'Inmates' of LCR. Your period in LCR coincided with me working on recording stereo cartridges (outside of LCR) and subsequently working in Radio 2. That explains our not coming across each other. I returned to work in LCR in 1983, remaining there until I transferred to BBC Technology in 1996, to commission Stage 6.

The closure of Radio Networks (who's staff were the TOs who ran the Control Room and the Continuities) in 1987/8 was brought about by the coming of computerisation and technologies which would ultimately replace most of the manual operations which kept LCR in business.

The Uniselectors were on their last legs by the late 80s, and BT's 'Permanent Circuits' were then being supplied over digital trunks; TV's requirements for audio circuits was markedly reduced by permanent connections bypassing BH ... so something major had to be done! Birt-ism was about to strike the BBC as a whole, like it or not.

A change in Departmental Management saw Roy Rogers (H.E.R.N) post closed and the four TOMs (George Mowlem, [Johnnie Bradburn], John Rich, Ted Atkinson, Vince Hills and Robbie Roberts reduced to just two - Dick Oldman and Tony Giles.
Then the four shift ATOMs at that stage (including Ian Favell, Dick Oldman, Denis Borrow, and Frank Mines) were replaced by a 'different form', with Roy Clifford, Brian Roberts, Colin Prior and Ian Favell . Incidentally Colin Prior went on to become Head of the entire BBC OB Unit (TV & Radio), retiring in the early 2000s to set up a business fitting kitchens!!

Anyway, that arrangement didn't really last long: Roy Honey's position (Manager Ops, London Station) was closed, and the department was - albeit for a brief time! - run by Dick Oldman and Tony Giles, working to Iain McCraw (from TS,R)
George Legg (who'd been Manger Ops for Radio OBs) had taken over the newly reorganised department [Radio Resources] which included Tech Services (R), Radio Networks and Studio Managers. London Control Room staff (of whom there were over 120!) were then offered 3 choices: they could either transfer to Studio Managers (News or Group 5 predominantly). retrain as Engineers or take redundancy.

I seem to recall that thirteen TOs opted to retrain (myself included!), perhaps 90+ staff chose to move over to SMs, and perhaps 14 or so opted to take redundancy. There was, however, a small wrinkle for those who chose to take redundancy in that they would need to remain working in LCR keeping operations going whilst those who'd opted to retrain as engineers could be 'trained'. Also they would work alongside the engineers from one of the TS(R) groups who would become the mainstay of what would replace LCR. There were also five new posts created - Broadcast Duty Managers - who reported directly to  George Legg - Dick Oldman, Roy Clifford, Brian Roberts, Tony Giles and Dusty Miller (from SMs). Even before they took up posts, Tony Giles was given responsibility for running the "newly computer-assisted Control Room" so Mike Todd took up his position as a BDM. [My most recent information is that Barry Jones and Mark Ekiert have both retired as BDMs when New BH was completed and TV moved into the building. I learned this at Alan Short's funeral in 2023.]

That was pretty much the situation, at least until they pulled down BH Ext, BH XX (which had been built an top of the Stronghold, where the carpark was) as well as Egton House, to build the "New BH" of today. [I should add that there was a form of LCR working on the 3rd floor of old BH from when BH Ext was pulled down until New BH CAR was set up.]   

As for the people, I can tell you that Martin Ffoulkes, Malcolm Dearlove, Nick Hartree, Jim Breen, Vic Lewis, Algy Longworth, Ralph Jordan, Frank Crombie, Ted Atkinson, Mike Baines, Roy Clifford, Alan Short, Frank Mines and Vince Hills are all definitely deceased, with George Mowlem, John Bradbury, Robbie Roberts and Roy Honey also being "very likely" to have passed away by now. (i.e. Unfortunately, and in spite of the internet, I've lost all contact with them!). There are several others that you've not referred to (like John Daniels) ... but the list is undoubtedly considerably longer!

Anne Elliot, John Herbert, Jim Breen, Vic Lewis, Pete Page and Pete 'Penge' Davies all took the redundancy option. Steve Webb and Pete Newbury had both become engineers a few years earlier (Steve went to work as an engineer at Radio London, while Pete went to SCPD where he eventually became the lead engineer in the rebuilding project of the computer-assisted "Engineering Operations Centre"(!). He subsequently had an illustrious career building TV Studios for the likes of Al Jazzera!); Eric Wisbey had become an engineer in SCPD and Arthur Westwood had left LCR many years earlier for other employment: TTBOMK Paul Fournier went back to Canada. Pete Laugalis and Steve Wiseman went to work at Thames TV; Dan Damon became a broadcast journalist in'82 (and with his wife Sian) spent seven years filming the downfall of the Soviet Union throughout Eastern Europe! He then returned to the BBC to work as a presenter and reporter for BBC World Service and BBC Radio 4. For reasons unknown he's not been heard broadcasting since 2020; Mike Todd and Brian Roberts both retired as BDMs; Phil Hughes became Head of Radio 2 Music Programmes (although he's now retired!); Wynne Davies left to go the Swansea Sound (he was working as an IT Consultant in '95, but then changed to become a music teacher in 2005); Malcolm Stokes went to Radio OBs; Clive Williamson left to become an author of computing books (as well as a Musician with his South American wife, if memory serves!); Tony Life took on responsibility for some internal computer systems, and Steve Dodds continued as an SM - both retired relatively recently after their years!
Neil Espley has retired to Cyprus; Barry Ainsworth opted to retrain as an engineer, but unfortunately was made redundant a couple of years later when further staff cuts were required as a result of Birt-ism. Tony Giles continues to live in Bishops Stortford whilst Dick Oldman remains living in Wickford, after suffering a bout of throat cancer (both are obviously long retired!).
I've done my best to keep abreast of what happens to most old TOs and this reflects the best information I have. I hope I've covered most events factually correct! and that I've not marked someone as passed when they haven't!!

Sad to learn this news.Eugene was truly an amazing person. His charm, sense of humour and kindness were legendary. He was simply unique. His scrapes and escapades were renowned. I was a young technical operator in London control room in th 1970s. This was a civilised era to work in and all staff were entitled to regular meal breaks. One evening during the Radio 4 continuity shift, Eugene was the duty announcer. On his break, he said jokingly to me "do you fancy a pint?". I brushed the remark aside as a joke. However, an hour later, wearing a large overcoat, when opened, revealed a freshly poured pint of beer that he'd managed to smuggle past the commisionaires. He truly was a one-off, the likes of which we'll never see again. I am sure many others have similar stories. You brought sunshine into our lives.   Howard Dartnall, Technical Operator 1974-1980.

We have received this tribute to Roger Stevens by his friend Steve Scales.

"Hullo ex-BBC staff.

I have heard via a friend that Roger Stevens, one time BBC Film Department assistant film editor, and before that a projectionist at Television Film Studios Ealing, has died in Blackpool; where he moved to, and was involved in musical theatre there, plus his own little film production company, SAMfilms. Roger was a proficient pianist, and loved musical theatre, but his burning passion was always Doctor Who.

Roger was witty, intelligent and unafraid. He could insult anybody, and you would let him get away with it. His dry sense of humour often ascending to camp heights that left me giddy.

He assisted me on my brief spell as film editor for Playschool and Caterpillar Trail. He always came in a bit late in the mornings. It was a long bus ride from Wandsworth to TV Centre and, well - you know how it is. But from about 10.30 am onwards, I simply didn’t stop laughing.

On to your next adventure in Space and Time, Roger. Bon Voyage! "

Roger Stevens 1959 - 2026. He died August 26th from Cancer.

Former BBC presenter and reporter Triona Holden has died. Tributes are coming in on her Facebook page.

This is one from her family:  Unfortunately, I have to be the bearer of some heartbreaking news. Our wonderful Triona left us yesterday, far too soon for any of us.
Clearly, Dolly and the gang needed her more than we did. ❤️
Please feel free to message Ian or any of us girls. And above all, know just how incredibly loved she was and how very much she loved all of you in return.
We already miss her more than words can say.
Rest easy, Mum. ❤️

This is her Wikipedia entry:    Holden began her career in 1976, aged 17, as a journalist at the Sheffield Star newspaper, eventually becoming their assistant crime reporter. Her first major story was Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper.
She briefly worked as a broadcast journalist for Mercia Sound in Coventry, then a freelancer for LBC in London, before joining the BBC in 1982. She started on BBC Radio, before moving to television. Working as a news presenter and reporter, she covered the miners' strike of 1984-85. She was later to write Queen Coal: Women of the Miners, published in 2005, derived from her experiences covering the strike. She was the youngest female national news reporter and the youngest person to present the Today and PM programme on BBC Radio 4; presented the Six O'Clock News on BBC 1; Newsbeat on Radio 1 and World TV News. In 1987 she was the only reporter to broadcast live from the disaster scene after getting onto the wreck of the Herald of Free Enterprise when it became semi-submerged off Zeebrugge.
While at the BBC, in her role as a reporter, she travelled extensively to war zones, famines, conflicts, and other disasters, including the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square protests, the Brixton Riots, and the 1986 coup in Lesotho
She left the BBC on medical grounds aged 39 after becoming seriously ill with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. She later retrained as an artist. From a Foundation Course in Fine Art & Design at The Camden Working Men's College 2006, she went on to Chelsea College of Fine Art and Design graduating in 2010 with BA (Hons).

Tim Llewellyn has written an obituary for Oliver Scott in "The Guardian", here.

" My friend and colleague Oliver Scott, who has died aged 81, arrived fresh to broadcasting when he joined the BBC Radio 4 programme Financial World Tonight in the late 1970s, from the Reuters news agency.  "

This from the cinematographers group :
“It is with great sadness that we learn that our friend and colleague, John Walker BSC, has died.
John began his career as a trainee at the BBC, working his way through the ranks to become a highly respected cinematographer. Over a long and varied career, he worked across some of British television's best-loved productions, including The Onedin Line, Doctor Who, Miss Marple and Only Fools and Horses, as well as Bergerac, Juliet Bravo, Lovejoy, Wycliffe and Hamish Macbeth.
His work brought him into collaboration with many distinguished directors, including Martin Campbell, Michael Winterbottom and John Glenister.
John was invited to join the British Society of Cinematographers in 1991, becoming part of a community to which he remained a valued colleague and friend.
John is survived by his wife, Mavis Rose Walker, and his children, Wendy and Gareth.
A memorial service will be held at Dunster Tithe Barn on Wednesday 30th September at 1:30pm, followed by a wake at the same venue. A livestream is also being planned for those who are unable to attend in person.
Our thoughts are with Mavis, Wendy, Gareth and all of John's family, friends and colleagues at this sad time.
John will be greatly missed.”

"BBC chief proposes ‘public service algorithm’ with YouTube-style user-generated content
Speaking at Edinburgh TV festival, Matt Brittin says BBC platform would be free from interests of US tech giants" from "The Guardian" by Michael Savage.

" While stating it was not BBC policy, Brittin raised the idea of turning an “iPlayer 2.0” into a YouTube-style site hosting appropriate content from creators. It would be built around an algorithm aimed at “educating, informing and entertaining the public here and ideally around the world”."  "The idea would be a big departure from the current iPlayer, which Brittin said had “fallen behind”. "
More here.